Ramiz Raja has cast his vote of approval for the Indian opening pair and observed that Rohit Sharma can play a substantial knock if he gets going.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are likely to open the batting for Team India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand, to be played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from June 18. India will play 6 Tests, including the World Test Championship final against the Kiwis in the UK in the forthcoming months.
During a discussion on India News, former Pakistan cricketer turned commentator Ramiz Raja replied in the negative when asked if it is a risky proposition for India to open with two attacking batsmen. Ramiz Raja added Rohit Sharma could play a match-defining knock if he gets settled at the crease.
“It is not risky. If you have an opening pair like that, you need to back them. Rohit Sharma will give you a double hundred if he fires,” said Ramiz Raja.
Rohit Sharma has amassed 1030 runs at an outstanding average of 64.38 in the eleven Tests he has opened for Team India. This includes a double ton against South Africa and three other centuries.
Ramiz Raja pointed out that Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill do not need to temper their aggression.
“You don’t have to think much, you just have to go there and play your game. It is very important to be aggressive. The Indian batsmen base their attack on that because their thinking is aggressive,” observed Ramiz Raja.
The 21-year-old Punjab batsman Shubman Gill has recorded scores of 29, 50, 0, 14, 11, 15*, and 0 in the England series managing a mere 119 runs averaging 19.83. Shubman Gill might be feeling the pressure of expectations right after his breakout series in Australia where he was India’s fourth-highest scorer after making his debut in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne last December. He scored 259 runs averaging 51.8 in 3 Tests against Australia.
